Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby Preview
The Champions Cup is back in full swing this weekend. Ulster will travel across the Irish Sea to face Leinster in a high-stakes Pool 1 clash. It already feels like a must-win game for Ulster, who remains without a point after two rounds. Meanwhile, Leicester sits in the third of four qualifying spots.
It’s been a tough year for Ulster as they navigate a transition period. The Ulstermen lost to both French sides in the ERCC but snapped their five-game loss streak before the New Year. Meanwhile, there’s a chance for Leicester to gain some real momentum after inconsistent form in recent weeks. This game will take place at 8:00 pm on January 11 at Welford Road Stadium and the Tigers are massive favourites.
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Richie Murphy impressed fans when he took over as Ulster’s head coach in 2024. He’s having a tougher time this season because they have a young squad and lost key players. Ulster has a single victory in their past six games. They defeated Connacht to end 2024 on a high in a tough 17-7 win.
However, they suffered back-to-back defeats against Toulouse in Bordeaux in December. Now they’re immediately under pressure because a defeat against Leicester could end their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages. The Sharks have five points while the Tigers have six, so Ulster is already trailing.
The Tigers had an inconsistent couple of months with two wins, a draw, and three defeats in their past six games. Their last match saw them defeat Exeter 28-15. They also defeated the Hollywood Sharks to kickstart their Champions Cup season after a humbling loss against Bordeaux. Leicester sits in fourth place in the Premiership with Ulster in ninth in the United Rugby Championship.
How good was James McNabney on Saturday? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3RYKTsGp7E
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 30, 2024
Olly Cracknell has the third most carries in the European Champions Cup this season with 31. He adds a unique dimension for Leicester, so Ulster must nullify him. Meanwhile, Freddie Steward has the most metres made with an outstanding 378. That’s 191 more than Matthis Lebel, his nearest competitor.
This will be Ulster’s tenth clash with the Tigers since 2011. Ulster has won six of those games, including two away victories. However, Leicester secured the most recent bragging rights in this rivalry when they won 33-24 in 2021. Ulster fans will hope to achieve revenge this weekend in the Midlands.
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby Predictions
Predicted Score: Leicester 30 – 15 Ulster
The Leicester Tigers look like a complete package compared to Ulster. That’s why our rugby prediction is that the Tigers will defeat their Irish opposition and edge closer to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
Many teams find Ulster a tough nut to crack, but we predict Leicester will run away with this game. Ulster is missing some big names including Tom O’Toole to suspension. They don’t have the depth in their squad to replace absentee stars. Richie Murphy has been struggling with this issue all season.
One positive for Ulster is the return of Iain Henderson. The Ireland international’s availability is crucial if they want to compete in this game. His leadership is inspirational because he always sets a high standard on the field. However, even his presence may not stop the Tigers from achieving a dominant victory.
Leicester has 18 tries in the Premiership this year. Ollie Hassell-Collins is their main man, with seven in the league. Ulster must shackle him and try to keep the score down. We predict Leicester will start this game fast because they want to soar into an early lead. This will force Ulster to open up and attack, but expose them at the back.
Handre Pollard put on a clinic against Exeter in their last game. The veteran Springbok is an outstanding flyhalf and could be a difference-maker in this clash. Many analysts noted his kicking out of hand because it helped set up several scores. His service to Hassell-Collins and Freddie Steward is a deadly weapon.
Jacob Stockdale hopes to regain momentum after his hamstring injury against Fiji. The winger enjoyed an outstanding resurgence in 2024. He has three URC tries this season but had six in 18 appearances last year. Stockdale forced his way back into Ireland contention and wants to show fans he isn’t finished. It could be too early for him to return.
In-play betting is an excellent option for this game. Leicester is a prohibitive favourite right now, but the odds may be better if Ulster score early. Furthermore, a red card or injury could cause a drastic swing. You could also select a second-half winner after watching the first-half performances.
Leicester Tigers vs Ulster Rugby Betting Tips
The Tigers will start this game as heavy favourites on our sports betting platform. This isn’t a surprise because they have a home advantage. Meanwhile, Ulster is enduring multiple injuries and suspensions. Their recent poor form doesn’t inspire the bookmakers, even if the Tigers are also inconsistent.
Leicester’s bevvy of internationals could help them overwhelm Ulster here. It’s 1/11 for them to defeat the Irish province. We think the odds are too wide because they are prone to mishaps. A €10 stake would only make a meagre €0.91 profit, so it’s pointless.
A better option would be to make a handicap wager. It’s only 2/5 if you apply a -9.5 handicap on the Tigers. This would yield a €4 profit from €10 if successful. It’s still not massive but may be tempting with a larger stake. Another option could be a +3.5 handicap on Ulster at 13/2. Ulster could start fast but throw away a lead. This time you could make €26 from the same stake.
We don’t expect Ulster to win this game, but it’s not impossible. They’ve raised their levels before, but this would be a staggering result for Richie Murphy’s side. They will enter this game as significant 13/2 underdogs, but don’t write them off yet. Betting on Ulster to win outright is more appealing than Leicester. The return of Iain Henderson is a massive boost.
One key subplot is Ulster’s flyhalf situation. Jack Murphy made his debut against Connacht after Rob Herring departed with an injury. Only time will tell if the head coach will throw his son into the fray again. However, there’s an enormous difference between him and Handre Pollard, who is a good pick to be this game’s top scorer.
Check out the other rugby betting markets at Novibet. One option is the winning margin as we predict Leicester will win by 15 or more at 5/8. This may seem excessive, but with Hassell-Collins and Steward in good form, Ulster will have their hands full. If Ulster wins, it will probably be by 1 to 7 points at 10/1. It’s a better option than picking them to win outright as €10 would make a €100 profit.
Players can also pick halftime and full-time winners. We think Leicester will carry a lead throughout this game, but it may be a way to enhance potential profits. It’s 8/1 for Ulster to win both halves. You could also make an over-under wager on the total number of points in this match.
Don’t forget to look beyond this game as we have match predictions for Leinster vs Stade Rochelais. The Irish side travels to La Rochelle for a juicy clash with their old nemesis, Ronan O’Gara. Leinster is second at our online sports betting site to claim that elusive fifth star while Toulouse are overall favourites.
Leicester Team News
Harry Simmons is no longer in contention after retiring in December on medical grounds. Leicester came out of their Exeter victory without extra casualties. Michael Cheika has enjoyed good preparation for this Champions Cup match.
Ulster Team News
It’s a different story for Ulster, who is enduring a major injury crisis at the moment. Rob Herring may be out for this game so Jack Murphy could start at fly-half. The good news is that Iain Henderson and Ethan McElroy add a much-needed boost to their beleaguered squad.
They will desperately miss Tom O’Toole after he picked up a six-game suspension that will rule him out of two Ireland games. Michael Lowry, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Balacoune, and James Hume are also absentees. It’s likely to be too early for Jacob Stockdale.